Spyro the Dragon debuted in 1998 for PlayStation by Insomniac Games. Four years later, the reputed developer moved on to a more action-oriented platformer, the Ratchet & Clank series.
After leaving Spyro behind, various studios took their chances with the franchise. Finally, in 2008, Activision bought the rights from Sony and released a remastered collection.
So far,we’ve seen 14 Spyro entries. That includesnine core games, one reboot, three spin-offs, and one collection.
The Spyro Game Series
Spyro games are often forgotten or unknown, sadly. Many still believe Spyro is one of the most iconic platforming video-game series.
These games followSpyro the Dragon, a young dragon with purple skin.
The original series by Insomniac also introduced Sparx, a dragonfly companion that can protect Spyro from damage.
Another side character isHunter the Cheetah, Spyro’s loyal friend.Moneybags is a bear obsessed with money and often asks Spyro for gems to let him pass. Lastly,Zoe is a fairy who represents the checkpoint.
Then, the setting presents various magical realms where dragons and fairies live.
The gameplay has remained similar throughout the year. These are 3D platforming games.You play as Spyro through a series of levels, collect gems, defeat enemies with simple attacks, and complete the objectives.
Lastly, we found four “eras” within the Spyro games timeline. First, there’s the Insomniac trilogy. Then comes a series of games coming out from different developers. The third era is a reboot, and, finally, the Activision era has only released a remastered bundle.
Insomniac Spyro Trilogy Era
Spyro the Dragon – 1998
In 1996, three games debuted that solidified the 3D platforming games: Super Mario 64, Crash Bandicoot, and Bubsy 3D.
The 1998 PlayStation title became a member of the new hit genre. It did nothing new, but it cemented the PlayStation’s reputation for its original IPs.
